How ECCO's New One-Stop Shop Helps Neighbors East of the Cooper

ECCO's One-Stop Shop: The Future of Community Outreach in East Cooper

In this important conversation, host Brian Cleary sits down with Stephanie Kelley, Executive Director of East Cooper Community Outreach (ECCO), to discuss ECCO's mission and the incredible expansion of their main facility in Mount Pleasant, SC.

ECCO is a vital human services organization serving everyone who lives or works East of the Cooper River, a mission that started 36 years ago after Hurricane Hugo. Today, they continue to help the community navigate the "storms blowing through their lives every day."

The New One-Stop Shop: Simplified Help, Maximized Dignity

Stephanie Kelley explains the vision behind the newly renovated facility on Six Mile Road. Instead of opting for a costly new building, ECCO expanded the current main facility by almost 3,000 sq ft to achieve a crucial goal: bringing all core services together in one place.

• Consolidated Services: The Clothing Closet was moved back into the main building, and the medical and dental clinics were placed on the same side with a shared reception area.

• Grace and Dignity: The renovation creates a welcoming and streamlined environment, ensuring that neighbors in need only have one entrance to navigate to access services like food, clothing, financial assistance, and the medical/dental clinic.

• Improved Efficiency: This one-stop approach has significantly improved how ECCO provides help, making it easier for clients to access everything they need in a single, focused visit.

3 Ways to Engage with East Cooper Community Outreach (ECCO)

While everything ECCO provides to its neighbors is free, the cost of services is real. Stephanie shares three powerful ways individuals and local businesses can partner with ECCO to give back:

1. Volunteer: Give your time to support the clinics, clothing closet, or other services.

2. Partnerships: Local businesses can form partnerships to support ECCO's ongoing mission.

3. Giving Back: Financial contributions are essential to ensure services remain available to all in the community.

Find Help or Provide Help Today:

To find out if you qualify for assistance, or to learn more about volunteering and giving opportunities, please visit:

https://ECCOCharleston.org (Look for the "Get Help" or "Provide Help" sections on the homepage.)